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12 N.J. Community Colleges To Share $15M In Funding

NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) - New Jersey's two U.S. senators say 12 of the state's community colleges will be sharing $15 million in federal funding.

Robert Menendez and Cory Booker say the money will be allocated to training students at the schools for jobs in the health care industry.

Bergen Community College will get slightly more than $6.1 million of the funding announced Wednesday, while the remaining school will get amounts ranging from about $732,000 to $836,000.

12 N.J. Community Colleges To Share $15M In Funding

"These are middle-class, family-sustaining careers," Larry Hlavenka said, spokesman for Bergen County Community College.

The funding is part of a $450 million investment in job-driven training through the national Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training grant program, which is administered in part with the federal Labor and Education departments. The program awarded grants to nearly 270 colleges across the country this year.

"There definitely are jobs out there for them, but they need the skill set," Essex County College President Dr. Gale Gibson told WCBS 880's Levon Putney.

Gibson says her college is one of the 12 trying to fill some in-demand healthcare positions.

Sen. Booker says more money is coming.

"But trust me, this is not the end," he said. "So we can get more people employed in New Jersey."

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